The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-05-07
POOR LITTLE CHAP.


known. And he ,oas just "Little Chap
after all.
He used to play continually about the
halls in the big hotel where we lived that
summer, and always by himself Some
how the other children were not attracted
to him; he could not romp as they did, be-
cause be was little lame; hip disease, the
nurse said, caused by q fall in infancy.
Perhaps it was his lameness, which was
very slight, however, that gave him that
odd, old look, which impelled us to call him
Little Chap, instead of some more endear.
ing name
He was never morose or peevish. From
morning until night he sang and Whistled
like any hooking bird, picking up by ear
any catchy tune he heard, and thrilling it in
q sweet little voice up and down the long
corridors where he walked and played for
exercise.
'.Lemme mail your letters" he would
say, cheerily. It was quite little trip for
him down to the Office, and he preferred
usually the longer and more circuitous
route by the stairs to the quick descent OF
the elevator.
At first-how ashamed am to think OF
It now-we were afraid to trust him, and
one day when he was given some money
for small purchase, we counted the
change.
lis it all right" he asked, in = little
grieved voice.
.sOf course it is" I said, quickly, ''only
there will be ten cents too many, unless
you take this" and proffered him bit Of
silver.
Instantly the small hands were clasped
behind his back, and his sensitive mouth
quivered.
II have bank full of money!" he said.
proudly. tIt's on the mantle in our parlor.
Then we began to understand him. He
just wanted Ito do and to do" like the
little man in the story, and he did not want
to be paid for it,
Meanwhile ''wonderment guesses," who
was his father and who was his mother2"
The first we seldom saw. He was agrave,
stern man with iron-gray hair, who looked
as if he had walked in the valley of disap-
Paul run by his side, and halted little to
accommodate himself to the faltering step,
but he was always in a solemn hurry to 20
somewhere or do something.
His mother was young and very pretty.
We had pitied him. supposing she was his
step-mother; but no, Paul was her very
own. She went out great deal, to ride,
to walk, to evening parties, and when at
home she was either resting or dressing,
or there was company-poor little chap.
Wherever she went she left trail OF
glory in her wake. Sometimes it was
fragments of feather trimming that foated
In the air like the Princess Thistledown.
Sometimes it was q rainb bow glory of irri-
descent beads from the hem of her gar.
ments, that dropped along her pathway in
shining profusion. nM
'sDon't touch me, Paul." we would hear
her say to Little Chap, 'tcan't you see that
] am dressed2"
Alasi when was she not dressed-armed
and equipped in that cruel panoply of
1ashion2
'He is so tiresome." she would say apollo.
geticaliy when she oondescended to notice
US. HE will worry you to death, it you
allow him. You have no idea what a child
he is! Why, he actually wanted to join the
Salvation Army"
We all laughed, but his mother did not
seem to think it a matter of mirth.
II expect something dreadful will hap
Zen to him r. she said one day, as she shook
her laces and feathers into fashionable
autter.
Poor Little Chapi We thought the worst
had happened to him in having such
mother. and yet, she was not wicked-only
weak and thoughtless.
"But evil 10 wrought by want Of thought
As we'll as want of heart"
She believed she had done her duty in
giving him good nurse One day she
said:
tsHhen he is older intend to make q
companion Of him. Mr. Revere is so busy
be can not spend much time with me, so
Paul viii DO very handy as an escort But
now-children arc such little animalsl
They tire me to death"
SO gradually it came about that we near
y adopted Little Chap. He was hungry
for music and our youngest sung all his
1avorite pieces. 1t was constant ques.
ton with him If there were any new
songs
Anew song made him happy tor week;
then he wanted another.
When not with Us he rehearsed his
songs to the travelling public he met in
the halls, 10 the belLboys, the porter,
any one who would listen to him.
Then someone gave him grotesque lit
tie book with flags and military shields on
the cover. 1t was filed with the songs Of
the Salvation Army. No money could buy
It from hin.
II can not imagine where the child gets
such plebian IDEAS" said the mother.
ssWhy, his father is one of the Boston Re-
veres. Tam sure he doesn't take i from
him u.
Z